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“My mom is not a criminal” states the shirt of 4 year-old Angel Quinone (right) walking with mom Alisha Dally

About 100 demonstrators showed up at Santa Barbara’s landmark dolphin fountain at the end of Stearns Wharf today to show solidarity in the face of the federal government’s recent threats to shut down the numerous medical marijuana dispensaries in town. Although the march began an hour behind schedule at 1 p.m., those involved gradually picked up intensity and fervor as they moved up State Street. Proudly sporting T-shirts reading “I Am Not a Criminal,” and “No Access Is Not a Solution,” the protesters chanted “Protect our rights! All of our rights!” as they made their way from the waterfront to the heart of downtown.

From the beginning, protest organizers stressed sticking together and obeying traffic laws to avoid injury. No police officers were present, but members of the group were peaceably assembled on both sides of State Street. Participants in the protest ranged from medicinal cannabis users to patients rights advocates to one or two people who claimed merely to like “smoking bud” and were generally supportive of the cannabis club concept.

“It’s not right that the federal government is trying to control peoples’ lives,” said a man named Seamus. Along with national medical marijuana activist Elvy Musikka - who is one of the few people in the country provided cannabis by the federal government for medical reasons - Seamus carried a sign at the head of the march that read: “CANNABIS. The Most Efficient. The Most Reliable. The Safest Part of My Treatment.”

Paul Wellman

The march was the latest public battle in the ongoing weed war between the federal government and California, where voters approved using cannabis for medical purposes in 1996. The City of Santa Barbara recently approved an ordinance to standardize the cannabis dispensaries, which had grown rapidly for such a small city over the past two years.

Paul Wellman

Elvy Musikka takes a smoke break

Wednesday’s action was specifically to protest a move by the federal government earlier this month, when representatives from the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration met with the owners of buildings that house cannabis dispensaries. The agents threatened to use federal racketeering laws to confiscate the properties if the cannabis dealers were not evicted. Since then, most if not all of the dispensaries in Santa Barbara have received eviction letters and some are already clearing out.

Does Elvy have an illness or an agenda? She has her bucket of fed-sanctioned reefers why does she feeI compelled to march the streets? I often wonder if these people are more concerned about the ill, or about losing support for their habit. This may be a low blow, but looking at Elvy, I don't see how she is evidence that pot is helping sick people...

Medical marijuana is not indicated to cure any ailment but to reduce symptoms of an illness.In Elvy's case, I believe, she has glaucoma; apparently marijuana slows the progress of the disease. It would be impossible to see from her picture whether she is doing better or not.In the case of those undergoing chemo or radiation treatment, they are able to get relief from the nausea which otherwise makes it impossible to eat anything without vomiting.It is also helpful for those suffering from AIDS related complex who also have symptoms of nausea.But I will reiterate my position that all drugs should be legal and the "war on drugs" has been worse than a waste of time which enables criminals to have one more way of making money and increases the number of innocent bystanders that become collateral damage.

A family friend had lung cancer which killed her a few years back. During her decline she was smoking marijuana to relieve the symptoms. According to what I was told the symptoms were dramatically reduced.

Alcohol prohibition failed, the drug war is likewise failing. Drug abuse is a sign of a morally vapid culture and you won't solve the problem by passing more and more laws. (Just like gun control won't stop the violence that has infected our culture) I don't see the anti-drug warriors getting serious about addressing the moral rot in society.

We have been conditioned to automatically react to marijuana in the same way folks used to react (and many still do) to the sight of an interracial couple: Purely on a visceral and conditioned level, but without examining the facts.

Overall, I believe that if Santa Barbara left people alone who are smoking pot, and spent less time promoting the booze culture, I think that the big picture would improve.

As for me, I haven't smoked the Killer Weed since 1977 and don't miss it, but the evidence suggests to me that there are those who benefit from it and I say we should leave them alone.

I haven't smoked the weed since the 70's either, when I realized that tuning out and zoning out were not a wise career path. I know the effects - it affects your concentration and your awareness and energy level, your motivation, your reaction time, your coordination and motor skills, your drive.

Medical marijuana is the first step to legalization and it is obviously being abused by those with no real medical need, and it somehow finds its way to those who use it only for recreational purposes. Case in point from the article - "the one or two people who claimed merely to like "smoking bud" and were generally supportive of the cannabis club concept."

The next step after legalization is a non-productive non-thinking zoned out society, probably including many with serious responsibilities - the gamut from air traffic controllers to raising children . And a lot more difficult to detect than say alcohol.

We all knew the potheads in high school, never were they at the head of the class and where are they now? Here we have a photo of a kid being dragged down the street propagandizing that there is nothing wrong with pot... if you want to end up a bum I suppose that is true, but please don't take a job that requires any kind of responsibility and puts others in danger.

If this were restricted to the seriously ill, fine, but it is unregulated and proving to be a public nuisance. I am happy the feds are taking control since there is no local control.

Based on reviews by the National Eye Institute (NEI) and the Institute of Medicine and on available scientific evidence, the Task Force on Complementary Therapies believes that no scientific evidence has been found that demonstrates increased benefits and/or diminished risks of marijuana use to treat glaucoma compared with the wide variety of pharmaceutical agents now available.

"Does Elvy have an illness or an agenda? She has her bucket of fed-sanctioned reefers why does she feeI compelled to march the streets? I often wonder if these people are more concerned about the ill, or about losing support for their habit. This may be a low blow, but looking at Elvy, I don't see how she is evidence that pot is helping sick people..."

Look, she is guaranteed her "bucket" once a month for the rest of her life. Period. She has no ulterior motive but to help others.

The funding for the article you posted on glaucoma came from the pharmaceutical industry. As patients move towards natural cures which are un-patentable, the pharmaceutical industry loses their profits. That is why they fund studies like the one you posted. I hope that you looked at studies on both sides, but I know you did not because you have no interest in the truth. People are able to function and live for years by using this substance. Look into how it helps multiple sclerosis patients, Parkinson's and various muscular diseases. Then read about the other 100+ conditions that benefit from the use of cannabis. It really does save lives, and it helps others live better lives. You and others like you should be ashamed of yourself for fighting this cause.